She Will Persist

12

Adira

Taranto was gorgeous. Well, staring at concrete walls for years automatically made anything look significantly better than it probably did, but even the experienced agents who were with me were looking around us and admiring the architectural wonders of the city and they had been to dozens of other countries.

We got two hotel rooms between the eight of us. Both had two twin beds and carpet space for two people to sleep on the floor. James, Owen, Axel and I were in one. Blitz, Cal, Lucky and Lautaro were in the other.

Yeah, that's right. Owen and James in one room. Whatever idiot (Axel) had decided that was gonna get socked by me later tonight.

We arrived at midnight like Flagg said we would. The city was beautiful lit up. Taranto was mainly a port city, so it was surrounded by the glittering clear water of the Ionian Sea. Italy's main navy base was here in Taranto, which dictated the city's commercial and economical trends, and was probably why Basilone lived here. We weren't staying in the Old Town, but it was only about 10 feet across to the building on the other side of our hotel, which seemed pretty medieval and old-timey to me. Coffee stains crept up the walls of buildings and plump greenery clotted exactly where it was supposed to in flower boxes and atop planted trees in the city itself. Some roofs had clay orange half-round shingles. Strategically placed lines of rocks clashed with the bright blue color of the water. Old castle-like structures, with domed tops and arches and faded brick patterns were nestled among the modern buildings fitted with glass that reflected the blended colors of the sky and ocean. Everything was stunning.

But scenery wasn't why spies came to places like Taranto.

-

I saw Axel's eyes dart to the upcoming convenience store across the street. Blitz and then the rest of the boys began to snatch glances at it too.

"Are you guys plotting a robbery or something?" I asked quietly. "Because I don't remember this being part of the plan." The eight of us made plans for any and all scenarios as soon as we landed here, but going into some random drug store wasn't part of any of them.

"Relax darling, we're just gonna go in and get some more... supplies." Blitz's mischievous grin made me progressively narrow my eyes. Blitz, Axel, Lucky and I were in one group to go check out the navy base from the outside. James had stayed in the hotel to try and hack into Basilone's bank records. Lautaro, Cal and Owen were at Basilone's old house. Our aliases were Argentinian so we all had to speak Spanish with South American accents whenever we were out in public. Or in my case, not speak at all because like hell I knew what a South American accent even sounded like.

We all crossed the street and entered the store anyway. Each boy went their separate ways, as if they knew exactly where to go to get what they wanted immediately upon entry. I stuck with Axel as he roamed down the aisles of the small shop. His multicolored eyes landed on some small silver boxes decorating a whole end of a rack.

"Condoms?" I stated dully, looking down at the box. "Seriously?"

He gave me a look, part sheepish and part smug, but otherwise didn't say anything. He kept the box.

At least he was responsible.

We walked around some more, me trailing behind him. He picked up some cigarettes and then I followed him to the counter.

As he pulled some Euros from his back pocket I spotted some colorful boxes more for my target audience just to my left. A small smile crept up my face as I cleared my throat and begun in Spanish, "If your money can pay for your...recreational supplies then I'm sure you wouldn't mind getting some tampons too," I cooed innocently.